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Sustainability Research

Javits Center Green Roof

Javits Center Green Roof

Optimizing the efficiency of buildings, chemical synthesis, transportation, and food production are a few aspects of a sustainable global community that enhances quality of life. Projects in sustainable engineering demand a broad and integrative approach that includes social and political factors. Researchers at The Cooper Union  have been actively developing and improving sustainable engineering solutions to local and global problems: 

  • Putting waste energy and materials to use in urban and rural environments    
  • Designing and optimizing green roof technology in collaboration with the NYC Javits Center
  • Developing roadmaps to achieve carbon neutrality and improve the resiliency of urban infrastructure

List of Current Sustainability Courses

Faculty

University Organizations and Clubs

Faculty and Student Research Projects

  • Autonomy Lab - The lab combines efforts from the university’s three schools: Architecture, Art, and Engineering. The collective focus of the lab is on solving problems involving the autonomy of cities and communities by searching for design breakthroughs in related fields that concern an autonomous and sustainable structure. (contact: Prof. Neveen Shlayan / Prof. Mili Shah)
  • Building Efficiency in NYC - Faculty/student research investigating ways to reduce the campus carbon footprint and apply that to NYC buildings (contact: Prof Melody Baglione)
  • Blast Resistant Materials and Systems (former Prof. Jameel Ahmed)
  • CO2 adsorption technologies - Faculty/student research investigating electrospun materials for carbon capture (contact: Prof Amanda Simson/Jennifer Weiser)  
  • Carbon Negative Technologies Systems Analysis -Faculty/student research investigating the monetary and environmental cost of different negative emissions technologies (contact: Prof Ben Davis/Amanda Simson)
  • Biochar and Waste Management Technologies - Faculty/student research investigating biochar as a waste management tool, potential soil amendment, carbon sequestration method, and carbon-neutral local energy source. (contact: Prof Amanda Simson/Ben Davis) 
  • Remote Sensing and Climate (contact: Prof Sam Keene) 
  • Barbara Ford Peace Center (Guatemala) Solar Energy Project and Sustainable Agriculture Project - developing a plan for solar energy collection and use; and soil improvement via biochar at the Barbara Ford Peace Center (contact: Dean Lisa Shay)
  • Electric Motor Testing (former Prof. George Delagrammatikas)
  • Sustainable Chemical Process Design (Alumni: Chae Jeong ChE'18, Kenny O'Neill ChE'18, Norris Nakagaki ChE'14, Heejae Huh ChE'13, Jung Choi ChE'13, James Lee ChE'13, James Stevenson ChE'13)
  • The Cooper Cooler
  • Beneficial Use of Waste Materials and Life Cycle Assessment (contact: Prof. Hejintao Huang)
  • Self-Sustaining Light Source (contact: Prof Toby Cumberbatch) 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.